Coupling device

ABSTRACT

A coupling device enabling rapid connection and disconnection of lifting wires or similar articles for attachment by an ROV to/from a submerged object comprising a main body portion ( 1 ), a hook potion ( 2 ), a closing member operated by a member ( 5 ) and a separate safety latch ( 4 ) arranged to lock the closing member when closed such that a load cannot escape the hook portion, the latch member and closing member being further arranged such that a gripping action (A, B) on two opposite sides of the body portion will automatically release said latch member and move the closing member into the open configuration while the device is held bodily under said gripping action, the closing member and latch member being spring biased so as to close and then lock the hook automatically when the grip is released.

[0001] The present invention relates to devices for connection anddisconnection of, for example, lifting wires, and in particular a deviceto enable rapid connection and disconnection of lifting wires or similararticles for attachment by a ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) to/from asubmerged object.

[0002] Today, to a large extent, modified standard lifting hooks fortopside application are being used subsea. Unfortunately, standard hooksare not designed for the subsea environment, nor for being handled bymanipulators on an ROV. It is desired that the hook or other deviceshould be locked against accidentally becoming disengaged from its load,and yet be openable reliably and simply by a robot arm on the ROV.

[0003] In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a couplingdevice adapted for remote manipulation, the device comprising a mainbody portion, a hook portion, and at least two movable members, themovable members including a closing member movable relative to the hookportion between open position and closed configurations, and at leastone latch member arranged to lock said closing member in the closedconfiguration, the closed configuration being such that a load cannotescape said hook portion, the latch member and closing member beingfurther arranged such that a gripping or squeezing action on twoopposite sides of said body portion will automatically release saidlatch member and move said closing member into the open configurationwhile the device is held bodily under said gripping action, the closingmember and latch member being spring biased so as to close and then lockthe hook automatically when the grip is released.

[0004] The latch member and closing member may each be operated directlyunder said gripping action, or via respective movable operating members.

[0005] In a preferred embodiment, the closing member opens outwardlyfrom the closed to the open position.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the closing member is operatedindirectly via an operating member movable under said gripping action.The closing member takes the form of a lever pivotally connected to saidbody portion and having a projection upon which the operating memberacts to open the device. The closing member may further be provided witha stepped cam profile for engaging with the latch member. The operatingmember may also be pivotally connected to the body portion of thedevice. In a compact arrangement, the closing member can be moved inthis way through a relatively large angle, to provide best access to themouth of the hook.

[0007] The latching member may also be in the form of a lever, directlyoperated under said gripping action.

[0008] A common spring or springs may be arranged to act directly orindirectly between the closing member and the latch member, so as tobias both of said parts into their closed and locked positions. Where aseparate operating member is provided for the closing member, thesprings(s) may be arranged to act between the operating member and thelatch member.

[0009] The movable members may be substantially shrouded within the mainbody portion of the device so as to prevent accidental release by impactother than said gripping action on said two sides of the body portion.In particular, when the device is in its closed and locked configurationthe movable members may be flush with the extremities of the main bodywhen viewed transversely to the gripping directions.

[0010] Movement of said movable members may be limited by stopformations such that at least one of them provides the means of holdingthe device bodily after the device enters its open configuration.Alternatively, the movable members may be arranged to yield until thegripping action is received on the body of the device.

[0011] The body portion and hook portion may be formed of a single pieceof metal, or pieces welded together to form a unit. In the preferredembodiment, the movable members carry none of the load when the couplingdevice is used for example as a lifting hook. The body portion mayinclude a recess which accommodates the moving members between two wallsthereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 shows schematically a hook device embodying the presentinvention, when in its closed and locked state, with side view detailinset.

[0014]FIG. 2 shows schematically the device in its open state.

[0015] FIGS. 3 to 5 show in more detail a locking finger, a safety latchand an operating lever, respectively, in the same aspect as FIGS. 1 and2, and in side elevation.

[0016]FIG. 6 illustrates manipulation of the device by a robot arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown schematically anembodiment of the novel coupling device in its locked and open statesrespectively. The body of the device is made up of a main member 1 whichcomprises a solid hook 2 at the bottom end and an eye 6 at the top forattaching, for example, lifting wires. The central section of the bodyis hollow from side-to side, between flat side pieces parallel to theplane of the drawing. This section houses a locking finger 3, a safetylatch 4, and an operating lever 5. The main member 1 in this embodimentis machined from a single piece of steel. Alternatively, it may beformed by casting, and/or the ends and sides can be formed separatelyand joined by welding, for example.

[0018] Locking finger 3 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, and servesas the closing member mentioned in the introduction. The locking finger3 is tapered towards its bottom end. Near the top is a hole 3 a for apivot by which the part is held within the main member 1 and can rotatebetween open and closed positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively.Adjacent to this pivot 3 a, the side of member 3 inside the main memberdefines a cam profile including a catch 3 c enabling it to be heldagainst rotation in the closed position place by the safety latch 4.Protruding from the top of locking finger 3 is a knob 3 c by whichrotation or the locking member 3 can be effected by the operating lever5. At the bottom end is a longitudinal groove 3 d. This groove 3 dengages a ridge 2 a on the tip of hook 2, and has two tasks. It helpssupport the finger 3 if exposed to a sideways force and it reduces therisk of jamming of the masterlink between, or through the two parts.

[0019] The safety latch 4 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4. Thelatch 4 in this embodiment is mounted within the main member 1 on theopposite side to the operating lever 5. The sides of the body areindented at 1 a, in such a way that a part of the latch 4 projects fromits housing and can therefore be operated easily by an ROV applyingforce A. At the same time, viewed in profile latch 4 does not protrudebeyond the outline of the main member 1, so as to be shielded againstinadvertent operation. There is a pivot hole 4 a located approximatelyone third of the way up the latch 4, for pivotal mounting in the mainmember 1. Positioned just above this on the edge of the latch inside themain member are two notches 4 b for receiving the ends of two coilsprings 7, seen in FIG. 1. At the bottom end of the safety latch 4 is acatch 4 c which engages the catch 3 c to holds the locking finger 3 whenclosed and the safety latch 4 has not been depressed (FIG. 1 condition).At the top end is a stopper 4 d which rests against the operating lever5 when the safety latch 4 has travelled its full distance (FIG. 2condition).

[0020] The operating lever 5 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5. Ittoo is housed inside the hollow centre section of the main member 1.Again the sides of main member 1 are indented at 1 b such that part ofthe lever 5 is clear of the main member 1 housing and can be pushed inby the jaws of an ROV (force B), while being shielded againstinadvertent operation. There is a pivot 5 a at the top of the lever 5and a notch 5 b at the bottom. This notch 5 b acts as a socket for knob3 b at the top of the locking finger 3. The edge of the operating lever5 inside the main member 1 has two further circular notches 5 c whichlocate the opposite ends of the two springs 7, which thus serve to forcethe parts 4 and 5 apart, counter to forces A and B as shown.

[0021]FIG. 2 shows schematically the device in its open state. In usethe jaws of a ROV clasps the device by the exposed parts of the safetylatch 4 and operating lever 5 and applies opposite forces (A & B) on thesafety latch 4 and operating lever 5, pushing them together and into themain member 1. Resistance is provided by the springs 7 between thesafety latch 4 and operating lever 5 such that a substantial force isneeded to operate the latches (approximately 100N).

[0022] When adequate force is applied the exposed parts of the safetylatch 4 and operating lever 5, the safety latch 4, which has lessresistance to pressure due to the fact that the distance from its pivot4 a and the midpoint of the two springs 7 is less than half theequivalent distance for the operating lever 5, will rotate around itspivot. The catch 4 c at the bottom of this latch 4 will therefore moveclear of the catch 3 c on the locking finger 3, releasing the lockingfinger 3. The stopper 4 d at the top of this latch 4 will prevent anyfurther travel after release of the locking finger 3.

[0023] When the locking finger 3 is freed, the operating lever 5connected to it is also freed, and now, provided that there is continuedadequate pressure applied to both the safety latch 4 and operating lever5, the operating lever 5 will rotate around its pivot 5 a until it restsagainst the safety latch 4. The knob at the top of locking finger 3 b,located inside a socket 5 b at the bottom of the operating lever 5 sothat as the operating lever 5 rotates around its pivot and forces theknob 3 b, and therefore the locking finger 3, to rotate around its ownpivot 3 a, opening the locking finger 3 a.

[0024] When the safety latch 4 and operating lever 5 are released, theforce imparted by the compressed springs 7 pushes apart the safety latch4 and operating lever 5, the operating lever 5 will have a greater forceimparted on it for the reasons set out above and therefore will returnfaster. This in turn will force the locking finger 3 to return to itsclosed position. A moment later the safety latch 4 will return, lockingthe locking finger 3 into place.

[0025] It will be understood that the invention is not limited to theembodiment described above, and the same principles of construction andoperation can be applied in a variety of equivalent designs. The numberand arrangement of parts can be modified, without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention The device is shown in a verticalorientation and described as having “top” and “bottom” ends, appropriateto a lifting application, but is in no way limited to use in such anorientation. While the force of the springs 7 will return the presentdevice to its closed and locked state regardless of its orientation,other embodiments may rely to a greater or lesser extent on gravity toachieve the same result.

1. A coupling device adapted for remote manipulation, the devicecomprising a main body portion, a hook portion, and at least two movablemembers, the movable members including a closing member movable relativeto the hook portion between open position and closed configurations, andat least one latch member arranged to lock said closing member in theclosed configuration, the closed configuration being such that a loadcannot escape said hook portion, the latch member and closing memberbeing further arranged such that a gripping action on two opposite sidesof said body portion will automatically release said latch member andmove said closing member outward, away from said hook portion into theopen configuration while the device is held bodily under said grippingaction, the closing member and latch member being spring biased so as toclose and then lock the device automatically when the grip is released.2. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the latch memberand closing member are each operated directly under said grippingaction.
 3. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the closingmember is operated indirectly via an operating member movable under saidgripping action.
 4. The coupling device as claimed in claim 3 whereinthe latch member is operated indirectly via an operating member movableunder said gripping action.
 5. The coupling device as claimed in claim 3wherein the closing member takes the form of a lever pivotally connectedto said body portion and having a projection upon which the operatingmember acts to open the device.
 6. The coupling device as claimed inclaim 5 wherein the closing member is further provided with a steppedcam profile for engaging with the latch member.
 7. The coupling deviceas claimed in any of claims 3 to 6 wherein the or each operating memberis pivotally connected to the body portion of the device.
 8. Thecoupling device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the latchingmember is in the form of a lever.
 9. The coupling device as claimed inany preceding claim wherein at least one common spring is arranged toact directly or indirectly between the closing member and the latchmember, so as to bias both of said parts into their closed and lockedpositions.
 10. The coupling device as claimed in claim 9 wherein theclosing member is arranged to be operated indirectly via an operatingmember moveable under said gripping action, and the spring(s) arearranged to act between the operating member and the latch member. 11.The coupling device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein themovable members are substantially shrouded within the main body portionof the device so as to prevent accidental release by impact other thansaid gripping action on said two sides of the body portion.
 12. Thecoupling device as claimed in claim 11 wherein when the device is in itsclosed and locked configuration the movable members are flush with theextremities of the main body when viewed transversely to the grippingdirections.
 13. The coupling device as claimed in any preceding claimwherein movement of said movable members is limited by stop formationssuch that at least one of them provides the means of holding the devicebodily after the device enters its open configuration.
 14. The couplingdevice as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the movablemembers are arranged to yield until the gripping action is received onthe body of the device.
 15. The coupling device as claimed in anypreceding claim wherein the body portion and hook portion are formed ofa single piece of metal.
 16. The coupling device as claimed in anypreceding clam wherein the movable members carry none of the load whenthe coupling device is used.
 17. The coupling device as claimed in anypreceding claim wherein the body portion includes a recess whichaccommodates the moving members between two walls thereof.